Capping spindle for securing closures on containers

ABSTRACT

A bottle capping apparatus wherein the bottle is supported on a solid table and wherein a pressure block is moved into engagement with the closure for holding it while the closure is fastened to the bottle. After a predetermined degree of pressure has been exerted upon the closure, the pressure block is solidly locked against retrograde movement until the capping operation is completed. One form of the invention includes a self-contained hydraulic system under a predetermined degree of maximum pressure for moving the pressure block into engagement with the closure. A valve in the hydraulic system stops the flow of hydraulic fluid and thereby locks the pressure block against further movement with reference to the closure and holds it securely during the movement of the fastening die.

United States Patent Burkhardt CAPPING SPINDLE FOR SECURING CLOSURES 0NCONTAINERS [52] U.S. Cl 53/342; 53/368 [51] Int. Cl B65b 7/28; 1367b3/12; 1367b 3/26 [58] Field of Search 53/341, 342, 343, 368, 53/367,310, 306. 329, 359, 361, 42

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,296,8l0 3/1919 Kappelhoff53/368 1,454,540 5/1923 Edgecombe, Jr. 53/368 1,699,209 1/1929 Rieck53/368 2,101,977 12/1937 Bond 53/368 X /3 lie Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Daniel J. Burkhardt, Richmond, lnd.

Aluminum Company of America,

Alcoa Center, Pa.

June 5, 1974 Appl. No.: 476,480

[ June 17, 1975 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee AssistantExaminerH0race M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or FirmTeare. Teare & Sammon[57] ABSTRACT A bottle capping apparatus wherein the bottle is supportedon a solid table and wherein a pressure block is moved into engagementwith the closure for holding it while the closure is fastened to thebottle. After a predetermined degree of pressure has been exerted uponthe closure, the pressure block is solidly locked against retrogrademovement until the capping operation is completed. One form of theinvention includes a self-contained hydraulic system under apredetermined degree of maximum pressure for moving the pressure blockinto engagement with the closure. A valve in the hydraulic system stopsthe flow of hydraulic fluid and thereby locks the pressure block againstfurther movement with reference to the closure and holds it securelyduring the movement of the fastening die.

10 Claims. 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJlm 17 ms SHEET fi sz 9 llPATENTEDJUN 17 ms SHEET 3 CAPPING SPINDLE FOR SECURING CLOSURES ONCONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toapparatus for securing a closure such as a crimp type closure to abottle. and particularly to apparatus wherein an up-draw die member isused to crimp the closure to the finish which is normally provided atthe top of the bottle.

In most capping operations. the pressure block has some type ofspring-loaded compensating device, which will allow for the fact thatthe individual bottles being capped vary somewhat from the nominalheight of the bottle. Without this compensation, the taller bottleswould be crushed by the cappcr head. and the shorter ones would not besealed properly. With the updraw closing system. the pressure block mustbe able to hold against the force of the up-draw operation. If it wereheld with a spring strong enough to resist that force, that samespring-load would be sufficient to break the bottle. One way to overcomethis problem is to make the spindle solid with no spring-load, but tospring-load the portion of the table that the bottle sets on. This canbe adjusted so that even a shorter than nominal bottle will depress thespring-loaded pad slightly. The problem with this type of apparatus isthat it is very susceptible to erratic operation because broken glass,dirt, etc. can easily cause the spring-loaded pad to malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the difficultyexperienced in the use of spring loaded bottle rest pads by utilizing arelatively light spring for applying the requisite top pressure againstthe closure on the container and then locking the pressure block inposition against the closure on the container as the draw die is movedupwardly with respect to the container to secure the closure on thecontainer. One form of apparatus for carrying out the invention includesa spindle which has a self-contained hydraulic system embodying twocylinders which are in communication with each other by a conduit withinwhich a cam controlled valve is positioned. One of the cylinderscomprises a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and has a piston therein whichis spring loaded to maintain a pressure on the hydraulic system at alltimes. The other cylinder contains a pistion which is rigidly connectedto the pressure block, the latter of which is adapted to engage the topof the closure cap and to exert sufticient force thereon to hold it inproper position on the bottle in advance of the up-draw opera tion. Thedegree of force exerted by the pressure block at such time is governedby the force of the spring which acts upon the piston in the reservoircylinder, and such force is less than that which would normally breakthe bottle. When the desired degree of force has been attained, then thevalve in the conduit is moved to stop the flow of liquid from onecylinder to the other, and thereby to lock the pressure block inposition against the closure on the container as the draw die is movedupwardly with respect to the container to secure the closure on thecontainer. The present invention enables the bottle to be positionedupon a solid support during the capping operation, thereby obviating thenecessity for the use of a resilient pad beneath the bottle. A resilientpad presents a problem of contamination from foreign material which cancause loss of resiliency and therefore faulty closure operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical section through acapping head which may be used for carrying out the present inventionand illustrating the control valve in open position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on a scale larger than that shown on FIG. Iand also illustrating the open position of the valve which controls theflow of fluid in the system'.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing theclosed position of the valve. thereby locking the pressure block inposition against the closure on the container;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. I but showing the controlvalve in the closed position;

FIGS. 5 to 10 inclusive show different steps in the movement of theparts for applying a closure to a bottle;

FIG. 11 is a detailed sectional view showing the relative position ofsome of the parts upon lifting of the capping head from the bottle;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the machine andon a scale larger than that of FIG. 1 and showing the connection betweenthe upper end of the turret cage to the turret support:

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section taken on a plane indicated by the line13-13 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a detailed sectional view on a scale larger than that of FIG.I and showing the connection between the bottom of the turret cage andthe rotating drive therefor; and

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the turret cage removed from themachine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One form of the invention isillustrated in the drawings which show a capping spindle 10 which has apressure pad or block I] connected to its lower end for engaging the topof a closure and pressing it against the top of a bottle to which theclosure is to be applied. The upper end of the spindle is connected torod 8 which terminates in a piston 12 within a cylinder I3, the latterof which has a chamber 14 into which hydraulic fluid may be forced foractuating the piston 12.

The present invention is concerned with the application of apredetermined degree of pressure by the pressure block 11 against thetop of the closure to hold it in proper position for crimping it to thefinish of the bottle, without exerting a degree of pressure which wouldbreak the bottle and yet will permit the use of an up-draw die forsecuring the closure to the bottle without resiliently supporting thebottle during such operation. The invention is carried out by lockingthe spindle against further movement with reference to its housing 15after the desired degree of pressure has been applied by the pressureblock against the closure. The preferred form of apparatus foraccomplishing such purpose includesa cylinder 18 which has a chamber 19,the latter of which constitutes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid to beused in the system. A piston 20 is mounted for movement within thechamber I9 and is disposed above the liquid in such chamber. The pistonis biased by a spring 21 to exert a predetermined degree of pressureagainst the liquid in the chamber I9 and thereby to maintain apredetermined degree of pressure at all times upon such liquid. The flowof hydraulic fluid between the chambers 14 and 19 is controlled by avalve 26.

The capping head includes a lower housing 15 and an upper housing 16which are movable vertically with respect to each other upon a rotatingturret. One form of turret assembly includes a cage or turret frame 69IFIG. 15) which comprises a plurality of vertical bars 77 which areconnected at their upper ends to a circular disc or ring 78 and areconnected at their lower ends to a circular disc or ring 79. The barsare spaced apart regularly around the cage and provide vertical slots 81for receiving the spindles therein. A somewhat similar construction isshown in Letters Patent of the U.S. Pat. No. 3.760.561.

The major components ofa turret assembly are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and12 to inclusive as comprising a stationary center support column 29, astationary support sleeve 39 (FIG. 14), and a drive sleeve 49 forrotating the turret frame 69 by a suitable source of power (not shown).The drive for the turret is shown as being through a turret hub 44 whichis fixed by any suitable means to the drive sleeve 49, and whichsupports and is fastened to the lower ring 79 of the cage by suitablefastening members 89. The turret assembly also includes a capper base 90upon which the containers are supported during the capping operation.

The turret assembly also includes a turret support sleeve 9 which issecured to the column 29 by means of a key or other locking means notshown. The sleeve is shown as having an outwardly extending radialflange 52 adjacent its upper end to which an annular cam 40 is fastenedby securing members 53. An upper turret support member 59 is alsorigidly secured to the column 29 and cooperates with the flange 52, onthe turret support sleeve 9, to receive and hold the inner race 54 of abearing unit 55. The outer race 56 is clamped to a support ring 57, thelatter of which is adapted to receive the circular disc or ring 78 ofthe turret cage and to be securely fastened thereto as by securingmembers 58. Accordingly, when the drive sleeve 49 is driven, the uppersupport ring 57, the turret hub 44, the turret frame or cage 69, and thespindles therein are rotated around the center support column 29 and arerotated with respect to the stationary cam 40 and the cam trackstherein.

To support the spindles for relative movement vertically while they arebeing rotated around the cam 40, the bars or ribs 77 of the turret cagehave opposing recesses 64 (FIG. 13) which provide guideways for lugs 70which project laterally from the housings 15 and 16 respectively. A gibplate 67 is shown as being connected to the outer end of each bar 77 bya fastening member 68. Suitable cam tracks 41, 42 and 36 in the cam 40are engaged by cam followers for controlling the operation of thepressure block 11, the valve 26, and updraw die 32 as the turret isrotated.

To move the piston 12 with reference to the cylinder 13, the chamber 14is in communication with the chamber 19 through a conduit 25 in whichthe valve 26 is slidably mountedv When the valve is in the positionshown in FIG. 2, liquid in the chamber 19 can flow through conduit 27into conduit 25 and thence through port 28 and into the chamber 14,whereas, when the valve is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, liquid isprevented from flowing between the cylinders. At such time, the

relationship between the parts is such that the pressure block hasengaged a closure upon a bottle 51, and the block after having beenmoved into engagement with the cap, is locked against further movement.At the time of locking the block. the closure is held against the top ofthe bottle with sufficient pressure to seat the closure properly on thebottle finish but without enough load to fracture the bottle. The liquidpressure acting upon the pressure block. at the time the valve 26 isclosed, is governed by the force exerted by the spring 21. This springcan be designed by one skilled in the art to provide the proper load tothe particular closure.

The desired degree of pressure upon the spring 21 may be attained bypulling the piston 20 upwardly, thereby compressing the spring 21 beforefilling the cylinders with liquid. One method of so compressing thespring is to thread the upper end of the piston rod beyond the cylinderextension 61, and to engage such threads with a removable nut 62. Then,when the nut is rotated in contact with the shoulder 63, the piston 20is pulled upwardly within the cylinder 18 to the desired position, andwhile so held, the system is filled with liquid. At such time, the valve26 is maintained in the open position, and the piston 12 is in itsuppermost position within the cylinder 13.

The system may be filled with liquid through a passageway in the pistonrod 60, and after the system has been filled, the passageway can besealed by a cap 66. Thereupon, the nut 62 is removed, thus allowing thespring 21 to maintain the desired degree of pressure against the piston20 and against the liquid in the system. The pressure of the liquidtends to force the spindle l0 downwardly against the force of a spring30, and to force the pressure block 11 against the top of a closure 50on a bottle 51 so long as the valve 26 is open.

The housing 15 is slidably mounted for vertical movement between theguideways 64, and it carries the up-draw die 32 at its lower end forcrimping the cap to the bottle. Movement of the housing for actuatingthe die is controlled by the cam track 36 on the cam 40.

The upper housing 16 is slidably mounted for vertical movement in theguideways 64 in the turret frame, and its motion relative to the turretis controlled by the cam track 41 adjacent the upper part of the cam 40.Move ment of the valve 26 within the conduit 25 for controlling the flowofliquid between the chambers 14 and 19, is controlled by the cam track42, which is positioned on the cam intermediate the cam tracks 36 and41.

The foregoing motions are accomplished by the engagement of camfollowers in the respective cam tracks as the turret is rotated. Thus,the housing 15 carries a cam follower 45 which engages the cam track 36;the housing 16 carries a cam follower 46 which engages the cam track 41,and the valve 26 carries cam follower 47 which engages the cam track 42.The cam tracks 41 and 36 impart vertical movement to the housings 16 and15 respectively with respect to the cam 40, whereas the cam track 42imparts a horizontal movement of the valve 26 within the conduit 25which is radially with respect to the cam. The turret is adapted to berotated with reference to the cam, by a suitable drive (not shown) toaccomplish the capping operation in a prearranged sequence of movements.

The pressure block 11 is carried by a central shoulder screw 82 on thelower end of the spindle 10 and is slidably mounted on the shoulderscrew and is biased to move downwardly with reference to the spindle bya spring 84. Such pressure block is formed to contact the closure at theouter sealing area at the start of the capping operation. A sleeve 85(FIG. 4) surrounds the lower portion of the spindle and also thepressure block H and is disposed between the spindle and the housing 15.it has an inturned flange 86 at its upper end which forms an abutmentfor the lower end of the spring 30, the upper end of which engages acollar 88 on the spindle. Such sleeve 85 serves to center the closure inthe capping head 30. The sleeve is drawn back to its starting positionupon the retraction of the spindle 10.

Assuming that the system is filled with hydraulic fluid, and that a caphas been advanced into the space beneath the bottom of the spindle, thata bottle has been placed beneath the cap upon a solid supportingsurface, and that rotation of the turret has been started, and assuming,additionally, that the valve 26 is in the open position and that theup-draw die is in the downward position, then the first operationperformed by the cam is to lower the housing 16 thereby moving thespindle downwardly to engage the top of the bottle cap.

The spindle continues downward carrying piston rod 8 until the lower endof rod 8 contacts a shoulder 83 on pressure block 11. At that point rod8 can descend no further, so piston 12 on the upper end of rod 8 isforced to move upward in cylinder 13. The pressure of the hydraulicfluid, as developed by spring-loaded piston 20, is then pressing on rod8 through piston 12 and is thereby transferred to pressure block 11which causes said pressure to hold the closure firmly against the top ofthe bottle. Concurrently, as rod 8 has been moving down against shoulder83, sleeve 85 has also moved down past pressure block I l, as a resultof pressure from spring 30 and movement of rod 8, with the result thatit has surrounded closure 50, thereby serving to center closure 50properly in the capping head. While the cap is so held, the cam 40operates to close valve 26, thereby locking the pressure block againstthe closure with the desired degree of holding pressure. While theclosure is so held, the cam operates to move the housing 15 togetherwith the up-draw die carried therein against the wall of the closure andthereby crimps the closure against the finish on the bottle. Continuedupward movement of the die beyond the top of the closure enables thecapped bottle to be removed. The valve is then opened and the partsresume the starting position where they are ready to perform a cappingoperation to another bottle.

FIGS. 5 to 11 inclusive of the drawings show progres sive steps in thebottle capping operation. Thus, in FIG. 5 the closure has been fed intothe space beneath the pressure block 11 while the draw die 32 is in thedownward position. in FIG. 6, the pressure block has started to move thecap downwardly toward the bottle 51 which is shown in broken lines.

In FIG. 7, the closure has engaged the bottle and is being held by thepressure block, while in FIG. 8 the up-draw die has started its upwardmovement to crimp the wall of the cap to the bottle. FIG. 9 shows theposition of the up-draw die at the completion of the crimping operationwhile FIG. 10 shows the position of updraw'die after it has been movedabove the bottle cap. FIG. ll shows the capped bottle after the pressureblock has been moved upwardly and out of engagement with the closurecap.

An advantage of the present invention is that the capping operation maybe performed while the bottle rests upon a solid support, and that thepressure exerted upon the top of the closure, while it is being held incapping position on the bottle, is maintained at a predetermined maximumwhich is adequate to hold the closure during the crimping operationwithout fracturing the bottle. The utilization of a selfcontainedhydraulic system for exerting a holding pressure upon the closure,together with a member for locking the closure in position, isapplicable to a roll on type of closure, as well as to the crimp type ofclosure.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for securing a closure on a container having a finishthereon comprising:

a draw die adapted to be moved upwardly with re spect to a closurehaving an outwardly projecting protuberance on its skirt forconstructing the protuberance inwardly toward a container finish tosecure the closure on the container,

means for moving the draw die upwardly and downwardly with respect to aclosure on a container,

a pressure block,

means for resiliently pressing said pressure block against a closure ona container, and

means for locking the pressure block in position against the closure onthe container as the draw die is moved upwardly with respect to thecontainer to secure the closure on the container.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I in which.

said means for resiliently pressing said pressure block against aclosure comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder and a compressiblespring disposed between a piston in the cylinder and a means for movingthe piston.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which,

said locking means comprises a valve which seals hydraulic fluid againstthe top of the pressure block.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein,

a second hydraulic cylinder is in fluid communication with the firstcylinder, and wherein a piston in the second cylinder is rigidlyconnected to the pressure block.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein,

a valve is disposed between the cylinders and is adapted to seal theflow of hydraulic fluid from one to the other cylinder.

6. Apparatus as set fotth in claim 5 wherein,

a cam actuated member controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from one tothe other cylinder and wherein another cam actuated member controls themovement of the valve.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein,

a third cam actuated member controls the movement of the up-draw die.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein,

a single cam operates all of the cam actuated members.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein,

the cam has three separate cam tracks and wherein each cam actuatedmember has a follower which is guided by one of said cam tracks, wherebyeach cam actuated member is moved independently of the other camactuated members.

10. Apparatus as set fotth in claim 9 wherein the cam tracks are formedin the cam to produce a sequence of operations comprising,

moving hydraulic fluid from one cylinder to the other to move thepressure block into engagement with 7 8 a cap which is positioned n thetop of a battle hepressure bloek against the cup and neath the pressureblock. then moving the updruw die against the cup 10 seal it then movingthe valve to slap the flow of fluid l'rmn against the bottle.

one cylinder to the other and thereby tn lock the

1. Apparatus for securing a closure on a container having a finishthereon comprising: a draw die adapted to be moved upwardly with respectto a closure having an outwardly projecting protuberance on its skirtfor constructing the protuberance inwardly toward a container finish tosecure the closure on the container, means for moving the draw dieupwardly and downwardly with respect to a closure on a container, apressure block, means for resiliently pressing said pressure blockagainst a closure on a container, and means for locking the pressureblock in position against the closure on the container as the draw dieis moved upwardly with respect to the container to secure the closure onthe container.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said meansfor resiliently pressing said pressure block against a closure comprisesat least one hydraulic cylinder and a compRessible spring disposedbetween a piston in the cylinder and a means for moving the piston. 3.Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which, said locking means comprisesa valve which seals hydraulic fluid against the top of the pressureblock.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein, a second hydrauliccylinder is in fluid communication with the first cylinder, and whereina piston in the second cylinder is rigidly connected to the pressureblock.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein, a valve is disposedbetween the cylinders and is adapted to seal the flow of hydraulic fluidfrom one to the other cylinder.
 6. Apparatus as set fotth in claim 5wherein, a cam actuated member controls the flow of hydraulic fluid fromone to the other cylinder and wherein another cam actuated membercontrols the movement of the valve.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6wherein, a third cam actuated member controls the movement of theup-draw die.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein, a single camoperates all of the cam actuated members.
 9. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 7 wherein, the cam has three separate cam tracks and wherein eachcam actuated member has a follower which is guided by one of said camtracks, whereby each cam actuated member is moved independently of theother cam actuated members.
 10. Apparatus as set fotth in claim 9wherein the cam tracks are formed in the cam to produce a sequence ofoperations comprising, moving hydraulic fluid from one cylinder to theother to move the pressure block into engagement with a cap which ispositioned on the top of a bottle beneath the pressure block, thenmoving the valve to stop the flow of fluid from one cylinder to theother and thereby to lock the pressure block against the cap and thenmoving the updraw die against the cap to seal it against the bottle.